"Don't you hate it when you pop a bottle of champagne and it's flat? So, too, with some of these inaugural balls," Washington Post gossip gals Amy Argetsinger and Roxanne Roberts alerted their readers in the January 20 edition of "The Reliable Source."
While none of the official PIC balls have been cancelled, the unofficial ones that have been cancelled or are on life support to be the ones geared towards the average Joe Sixpack and to America's military veterans:
If you nabbed a ticket to one of the official balls sponsored by the Presidential Inaugural Committee tonight, you're fine. But some of the other high-profile parties have been canceled or are still scrambling to cut costs and sell last-minute tickets, leaving ballgoers disappointed or out in the cold.
The People's Ball at the Grand Hyatt announced a blue-light special yesterday: Tickets slashed $100 -- to $250! The American Music Ball, hosted by Dionne Warwick, which planned two big-name events at the Marriott Wardman Park, was scrambling to sell enough tickets ($450 for the Legends ball with George Clinton, Chaka Khan and the Temptations; $350 for the Urban ball with Ludacris, Fantasia, and Cedric the Entertainer) for the show to go on -- and it wasn't looking good last night, said sources.
Story Continues Below Ad ↓The "Heroes Red, White & Blue" Ball at the Warner Theatre with Jamie Foxx, rapper Nas, guitarist Slash, and gospel star Donnie McClurkin scrapped its entire lineup and subbed in a band called Memphis Gold, reports our colleague Richard Leiby. "There will be a performance, but not as previously listed," said publicist Linda Roth. Ditto for the after-party with disco stars Chic, who were stunned by the sudden cancellation. Singer Sylver Logan Sharp told us in an e-mail: "I can't express how sick I am over this."
And the Veterans Ball at the St. Regis Hotel? Canceled -- and promoter Dante Hayes is nowhere to be found, the Navy Times reported yesterday. Tickets for the party (not to be confused with the official Commander-in-Chief Ball for the military) went for up to $385 on the Congressional Education Foundation for Public Policy's website Web site, which abruptly shut down yesterday.
Since that was published early this morning, Roberts and Argetsinger added an update to their Reliable Source blog shortly before noon.:
The American Music Ball has been cancelled, according to a rep for the Marriott Wardman Park hotel where it was to have been hosted.
However, some of its big-name entertainers will find a home at another struggling inaugural fete -- the Heroes Ball, which suffered a sudden loss of its talent lineup over the weekend. Among the names headed to the Heroes Ball are George Clinton, Ben Vereen and Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, according to a rep for the Heroes Ball.
And whither the AMC's biggest names? Dionne Warwick and Ludacrisj were set to host the dual "Legends" and "Urban" parties. We'll let you know if we find out. . .
Five days ago I noted how the Washington Post reported that there were plenty of hotel rooms still available for the inauguration in Washington, D.C. On January 9 I noted how the Post found the air had gone out of the inaugural housing rental bubble.
—Ken Shepherd is Managing Editor of NewsBusters




















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Comments Policy
Oh Nuts Ken
January 20, 2009 - 13:11 ET by acumenWaPo Notes Obama Balls Gone Flat?!?
Well if anyone would know.....no....not going there.....must behave on this historic day.
acumen.. not to mention
January 20, 2009 - 13:29 ET by Gary Hallacumen.. not to mention the color of same, on such a cold day.
Umm
January 20, 2009 - 13:35 ET by MichelleCYeah, we probably shouldn't go there today though I was unaware that he had any....uh, spheres.
Republicans believe every day is the 4th of July. Democrats believe every day is April 15th ~ Ronald Reagan
MC you beat me to it. I was
January 20, 2009 - 16:00 ET by jistincaseMC you beat me to it. I was going to say that I was unaware that he had any balls. I thought Hillary had them in her back pocket along with Bill's.
...
January 20, 2009 - 13:28 ET by oldmanateeSo, will there be refunds or is that money just gone to some rich white guy's pocket?
Suprise, Suprise...
January 20, 2009 - 13:28 ET by Doc_NavyGee, what a suprise. The two balls held for Vets, and Combat Wounded Service members are kanked. Along with the ball for, "Average Citizens".
Why do I feel that this is going to be a major trend with the incoming Administration?
Doc
2008: The year that the great LIE died.
How we know that they know that they are Lying.
Friedrich Nietzsche summed up how I feel about the MSM in this quote:
"I'm not upset that you lied to me, I'm upset that from now on I can't believe you."
Doc
January 20, 2009 - 13:40 ET by BlondeCongrats to the Navy....the only part of that spectacle that went well today.
Thanks
January 20, 2009 - 13:48 ET by Doc_NavyUmm, on behalf of the Navy... (if I may be so bold) Thanx. :)
Although, I'm not sure which part of the spectacle you are referring to. I'm not watching the inauguration. I have more important things to do... like clip my toe-nails.
PS. my comment above should read: "And the ball for "Average Citizens" gets a price-tag hike."
Doc
2008: The year that the great LIE died.
How we know that they know that they are Lying.
Friedrich Nietzsche summed up how I feel about the MSM in this quote:
"I'm not upset that you lied to me, I'm upset that from now on I can't believe you."
Gone flat....
January 20, 2009 - 13:42 ET by Pilgrim1949Wouldn't you know it's the "offficial" (read: Demmie Richie Rich) ones that didn't lose their fizz and go flat. (Of course, this whole event is "for the people".....who can cough up the big bucks, as usual.)
....and doncha just hate it when you lose your fizz and can't pop your cork?....
As a USAF vet, myself, I also find it irksome that the events that were supposedly to benefit vets are getting the short end of the stick...or rather "shaft." How emblematic and representative of the incoming (including Clintonista retreads) administration -- not as much interest or support for the ones whose sacrificial service makes this all possible.
Thank goodness there's still
January 20, 2009 - 13:51 ET by SickofLibsThank goodness there's still a party going on in Chris Matthew's pants.
Pants?
January 20, 2009 - 14:08 ET by KarmaI thought he was going to wear his blue dress today.
No representation, without taxation!
Revise that to party in his panties
January 20, 2009 - 14:27 ET by SickofLibsOops, you're right, Mitchell The Mummy was wearing red, so Matthews would have go with blue.
The "People's Ball"
January 20, 2009 - 13:52 ET by CobraMan"The People's Ball at the Grand Hyatt announced a blue-light special yesterday: Tickets slashed $100 -- to $250!"
Maybe they should have renamed it to the Rich People's Ball. Now we know why Obama wanted us to save the money from "Bush's" refund check, so people could afford to attend the Balls.
Obama: My job is above my pay grade
My balls
January 20, 2009 - 13:56 ET by MillerTimeWarparen't cheap, but they can be had.
and...
January 20, 2009 - 14:03 ET by CobraMan...I've got the biggest Balls of all!
Obama: My job is above my pay grade
It's the economy stupid
January 20, 2009 - 14:03 ET by ricklailEverybody spent too much money buying bus tickets and Obama souvenoirs to afford a ball ticket.
Ricky Joe the Plumber
Actually
January 20, 2009 - 14:51 ET by UpNorththe dems spent so much on Acorn, buying votes, registering dead folks, the Cowboys offensive line, and assorted felons, foreigners and non-existent citizens, that they ran out of money. So they had to chop some balls off. Naturally, it had to be the citizen's and veteran's balls.
But, Wall Street is impressed with the Obamism in DC, at 2:50pm, the Dow is down almost 300. Way to go, demmies. Or is it dummies?
LOL-Ahh, isn't there a treatment for that?
January 20, 2009 - 14:06 ET by R D Helm-Dave
“Them that’s going get on the wagon. Them that ain’t get out of the way.” -While there is still time.
Ken...
January 20, 2009 - 14:10 ET by SickofLibsI nominate that as NB Headline of the Year.
Obama voters want it for free. Entitlements galore.
January 20, 2009 - 14:15 ET by attorneygirlThey should have had a ball called "The Entitlement Ball."
It would be completely free.
All you have to do go get in is complain, whine, whimper, and shout "racist" or "you owe me," or "what's in it for me?" or "Yes We Can."
Then the organizers would send the bill to me and every other small business owner who pays the bills, doesn't whine, and pays taxes through the nose.
Very nice
January 20, 2009 - 14:23 ET by MillerTimeWarpYou read my mind. For a bunch of bleeding-heart liberals that want FAIRNESS (I dont want to work, give me my entitlements) - the phrase "Yes We Can", is such an oxymoron. If "you can", then stop using the race card, stop using the victim status.
Is anyone really surprised
January 20, 2009 - 15:54 ET by traditionalistthe the service balls were canceled? Im not. The contempt that the Socialist in Chief has displayed to the troops that he will command irritates me (to put it mildly). Looks like this coronation is not going to be as successful as the libs need it to be.
How many visits will the usurper make to WR?
20 Jan 08: The day the Republic died
Obama and his flat Balls !!!
January 20, 2009 - 17:55 ET by SR71 555Chrissy Matthews would know if Obama had "Flat Balls" !!! Because he has had them in his mouth !!!
No need
January 20, 2009 - 18:27 ET by choselife3xTo be crude AND unfunny.
In order to be pro-choice, one must first be born. Ah, the irony.
Crossing my fingers....
January 20, 2009 - 23:13 ET by ToddonCapeCodI'd love to hear that that idiot, Ludacriss was denied a ball.
Would almost make the events of this day worth it. Almost
"I'd love to hear that that
January 20, 2009 - 23:17 ET by Blazer"I'd love to hear that that idiot, Ludacriss was denied a ball."
Unless of course Andrew Sullivan's clique was around, then there would no shortage of balls for Ludacriss to go to.
Not that there's anything wrong with that.
"You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious. "
- Ben Kenobi on Liberals, and the MSM.
" The Cake is a lie."